Her Cowboy's Triplets (The Boones of Texas 7)
“It’s not good,” Cal said.
“They’re just pesky, for the most part. But, to be safe, don’t touch ’em,” Brody said. “It can bite or scratch you and make you real sick.”
Suellen backed up. “Bite us?”
Tanner tried to round the kids together, eager to herd them all to safety. “It’s okay, Tanner,” India whispered, rubbing the dog behind the ear.
“They look funny when they run,” Cal said, pointing at the ridiculously tiny feet sticking out from under the armadillo’s armor. “Bet there’s lots of lizards up ahead. Come on, Amberleigh.”
Amberleigh let go of India, so India put her down and watched the little girl run to catch up to Cal.
“Try to keep them together, Tanner,” she said, nodding after the kids. The dog milled among them, doing his best to keep them in line while staying on alert.
“Good dog,” Brody said, admiring the animal’s efficiency.
“He was a stray,” she said. “I almost hit him with my car when he was a puppy, all bony, floppy ears and big paws. JT told me to leave him, but I couldn’t. He had the sweetest eyes and was so eager to love someone. I brought him home and cleaned him up—he was my baby until Cal came along. Then Tanner decided Cal was his baby, too. He takes good care of him.”
Brody studied her for a long time. She knew what that look meant: he had questions. But he must have sensed her reticence because he didn’t push. “My mom said Amberleigh put her shoes on because of Cal,” Brody said, returning Suellen’s wave.
India watched the exchange. There was no denying the love and devotion this man had for his daughters. And it made her ache. He was a good man. A good father. And Brody Wallace was, without a doubt, the best-looking man she’d laid eyes on in...years.
He turned when the news reporter came power-walking up the path.
“My running shoes were in the van,” she explained. “I’m Jan Ramirez, WQAI. You’re India Boone?”
“I am.” She glanced nervously at Cal.
“How’s the head?” Brody asked.
“It’s fine.” The woman waved his question aside. “You two are friends?”
India cleared her throat. “Just to be clear, my son and I aren’t interested in being part of this interview.”
Jan’s gaze darted between the two of them. “You and Brody being friends will only confirm what a great guy he is.”
India didn’t take the bait. She wasn’t going to talk about the feud or their fathers. “I’m sure you’ll be able to do that without having me or my son on camera.” She did her best to smile but knew it fell flat.
“May I ask why you don’t want to be on film?” Jan pushed, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Are the two of you trying to keep your relationship a secret?”
India stopped, her heart in her throat. Relationship? The word struck a nerve, a highly agitated nerve far too close to the surface. And the look on Jan Ramirez’s face told her the other woman knew it, too.
Tanner’s sudden barking distracted her. His barking sharpened, turning ferocious—and India’s blood to ice. She didn’t know what was happening, but the chorus of cries from Cal and the girls had her running toward them with her heart lodged in her throat.
* * *
BRODY HELD HIS BREATH, the terror and screams of his daughters setting him in motion.
“Snake! Snake!” Cal cried out. “Tanner! No!”
And there was Tanner, stumbling, then falling, to the ground, still whimpering.
Brody had never moved so fast in his life. He didn’t think as he kicked aside the copperhead, which landed a few feet away and went slithering off. He didn’t think as he herded the kids toward India, and bent to scoop up Tanner. “Cal. We need to get him to the clinic. Quick. Run back,” Brody said, handing the boy his keys. “I’ll get Tanner, you get the truck door?”
Cal nodded, gripping the keys and running as fast as his legs could carry him.
India was already picking up a wailing Suellen and Amberleigh, while Jan Ramirez awkwardly carried Marilyn.
How they managed to get back to the truck without further incident was a mystery. While India buckled the kids into the Suburban, Brody loaded Tanner into the back.